SURREY Police have introduced a raft of measures to stop festive drinkers boozing on Guildford’s streets this Christmas period.

These include underage drinking patrols and bobbies manning buses to and from Guildford town centre.

Since the borough council designated more than 30 public places as no drinking zones in February, police have confiscated alcohol on 69 occasions.

Powers adopted under the Criminal Justice and Police Act make it illegal for a person to continue drinking in a designated place once asked to stop by an officer. In the last 10 months, two men have been given £50 penalty notices for drinking in public.

The first was a 20-year-old in Dene Road on June 10, while a 31-year-old also found himself out of pocket after being fined in the High Street on August 17.

Other measures to ensure alcohol is only drunk in licensed clubs, bars and venues over the next two weeks include extra marshals at the bottom of North Street’s taxi rank. The Safer Guildford Partnership is also holding an under-18s party for 13- to 17-year-olds, who can have fun in a drink-free environment.

“During the daytime it’s street drinkers who are aware they are in an area where consuming alcohol is not permitted. Then there are night-time revellers who are carrying drinks from one venue to another who are not aware. However, on the majority of occasions, revellers are usually relieved of their drinks as they exit bars and clubs.”